Trace holder and cast-off.



C. J. REYNOLDS.

TRACE HOLDER AND CAST-OFF.

(Application filed. May 14, 1901.)

No. 697,365. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

(No Model.)

1' NORRIS PETERS g0 momumoq WASHINGTUN u c UNITED STATES PAT T OFFICE.

CHARLES J. REYNOLDS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO DAVID M. \VAITT, OF SOMERVILLE, AND BENJA- MIN F. FREETHY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRACE HOLDER AND CAST-OFF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,365, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed May 14, 1901. Serial No. 60.219. (No model. I

companying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of novel means for holding the traces of a harness securely in connection with the whiffletree and for releasing the traces to free the horse in case of any accident where it is desired that the horse be detached from the vehicle.

In my invention I have provided the \vhiffle tree at each end .with a sliding cast-off which embraces a trace, said device having operatively connected with it a suitable actuator under the control of the driver to instantly slide the trace embraced by it from the end of the stud which retains the trace in engagement with the whi'lfletree.

Figure 1 shows the front end of a wagon box and axle, the wagon-box being sustained by suitable springs, and part of a pair of shafts; Fig. 2, an under side View of the central part of the whifiletree' enlarged and detached to show the actuator; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail showing one end of the whiflietree with the cast-off in full lines in operating position and by dotted lines in its inoperative position. Fig. 4c is an under side view of the entire whiiiletree.

Referring to the drawings, the axle A, the box B, the shafts O, coupled with the axle, and the spring D are and may be of any usual or suitable construction, and the shafts may be united to the axle with any usual coupling.

The whiffietree E is united with the crossbar 0 of the shafts by a suitable bolt cl, there being interposed between the Whiffletree and the said cross-bar any usual wear-iron. The whiffletree has at each end a suitable ferrule, as d, and a stud 0?, the latter when standing in the usual slit or eye at the end of the trace a holding the trace securely and enabling the horse to draw the vehicle. I have provided the whiffletree at its under side at each end with a cast-01f F, represented as a bar forked at its ends to present two earsff, with a space between in which is placed the trace end, said ears having suitable holes to embrace the stud d when the cast-off is in working position. Each cast-off has cooperating with its inner end a suitable actuator, in this present instance of my invention represented as a lever G, shown as having its fulcrum on the bolt uniting the whiffletree to the crossbar 0. The actuator is provided at its under side, as herein represented, with a circular groove ct, concentric with the opening therein, which receives the bolt (1, said groove receiving in it the usual circular projection formed upon awear-plate H of usual construction, secured to the cross-bar c, and incommon use the other part: of the wear-plate, in this instance beingthe under side of the actuator and its groove a. The bolt uniting the whit'fletree to the cross-bar of the shafts passes through, as stated, the actuator and also the part H of the wear-plate before being passed through the cross-bar. The actuator also has, as herein represented, suitable eccentric slots, as b, which receive studs or projections 19 of the cast-0E. The outer wall of each of these slots has a notch, as b (shown best in Fig. 2 by dotted lines,) and the under side of the actuator is provided with cams b to meet the inner end of the cast-off as the actuator comes into its normal or locked position, (see full lines, Fig. 2,) said projection sliding the actuator outwardly for a slight distance far enough to place the stud of the cast-ofi in the notch. In this condition the forked ends of the cast-off embrace the pin, and there is a slight space between the inner side of the inner ear of the cast-off and the end of the whiftletree. While the stud of the cast-off stands in the notch leading from theslot, the actuator and the cast-off are both locked, so that they cannot be accidentally moved to release the traces. Instead of this particular form of looking means I may employ any other suitable means for locking the actuator and cast-off in their operative position. IVhen the actuator occupies the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 2,the cast-off occupies the dotted-line position,

Fig. 3, the inner face of the innermost car f of the cast-off then occupying a position just within the end of the stud, and in such condition the trace may be inserted in the space between the ears of the cast-01f and-the actuator be moved into its full-line position, Fig. 2, causing the ears of the cast-off to move laterally to place the trace farther on the stud, the outermost ear f passing over and embracing the stud, the ears carrying the trace with it and holding the trace -on the stud.

In case of accident, to detach the horse from the vehicle it is only necessary to turn the actuator and slide the cast-01f, embracing the trace between its eyes, longitudinally in a direction to force the trace from the stud.

I have shown herein one suitable means for moving the actuator, viz: I have provided the body of the vehicle with a suitable sheave 71, having a connected ratchet-toothed plate h, and have joined to this sheave one end of a suitable connection, as a rope or wire h which at its other end is joined with the actuator. Upon the stud, which serves as a fulcrum for the sheave, I have mounted a lever if, having a pawl h, which engages the teeth of the ratchet-plate, and whenever it becomes necessary to move the cast-off the driver merely depresses the lever and imparts a rotative movement to the sheave, thus winding the flexible connection thereon and moving the actuator to cause the cast-01f to remove the trace from its stud.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A whiffletree having at its end a stud to enter a hole in a trace, a cast-01f composed of a sliding bar mounted upon the whiffletree,

said bar being provided at its outer end with a fork to embrace a trace, the arms of said fork having holes to embrace the stud, a pivoted actuating device provided with a slot eccentric to the pivot thereof, a stud on said sliding bar the walls of said slot being arranged to engage said stud to positively move the sliding bar lengthwise of the whiliietree in either direction.

2. A whiffletree having at its end a stud to enter a hole in a trace, a cast-0E composed of a sliding bar mounted upon the whiffletrce, and having trace-engaging means, a pivoted actuating device provided with a slot eccentric to the pivot thereof, a stud on said sliding bar the walls of said slot being arranged to engage said stud to positively move the sliding bar lengthwise of the whifiletree in either direction, and a locking device to lock the actuator in position to hold the trace upon thev stud.

3. A whiftietree having at its end a stud to enter a hole in a trace, a sliding bar mounted upon the whiffietree and provided with means to embrace a trace, a pivoted actuating device provided with a slot eccentric to the pivot thereof and having a recess at one end of the slot and a cam adjacent said recess, said bar being provided with a stud to engage the eccentric slot, and adapted to be moved by the said cam to cause'the stud to be locked in the recess.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. REYNOLDS.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, BENJ. F. FREETHY. 

